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It begins with a road, then logging, and eventually ranching or farming and the settlement of a new town. BR-319 spans 540 miles – mostly through pristine forest – connecting Porto Velho, Rondônia, in the south, and Manaus, Amazonas, in the north. Most of the road remains unpaved, but illegal settlements established along its path call for increased infrastructure — ultimately leading to increased deforestation of the surrounding areas to bring in the business and development of soy and cattle farms.
Sawmill operations begin in the early morning along BR-319 near Realidade, an illicit frontier town in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, where many work in illegal logging trades.
A 1,500-meter long deforested patch sits about a mile off of BR-319 just north of Realidade. Snaking through the trees are secret roads hidden beneath a dense canopy, where loggers can travel to find spots to harvest the most valuable trees first, before eventually clearing entire areas. With no enforcement in such rural areas, it’s difficult to keep tabs on who’s abiding by the country’s timber regulations — or who’s not.
AR scan of image to the left (Scars of Deforestation). Captured by taking photographs from a DJI Mavic Pro 2 and using photogrammetric techniques and software to produce a 3D model.
Illegal settlements become easier to establish as roads are carved through the jungle and eventually paved — making way for more development.
A slaughterhouse under construction just west of Humaitá along the Trans-Amazonian Highway, not far before reaching BR-319 and bringing more development to small frontier towns such as Realidade.
An important reminder to support conservation-minded ranching in the U.S. and around the world, as many livestock operations in Brazil do so unsustainably — clearing vast amounts of forests for only several dozen head of cattle.
Smoke rises from lumber mills in União Bandeirantes. For the last 20 years, this growing settlement has been pushing deforestation closer to the indigenous Karipuna village a few miles to the east — much of the surrounding forest is already gone.
Illegal logging roads snake through trees into the protected land of the indigenous Karipuna.
The Karipuna have faced growing threats of encroachment over the last several years as deforestation makes its way closer to their home along the Jaci Paraná River. With Brazilian President Bolsonaro’s recent election, the Karipuna are fearful of policies that will make their fight even more difficult.
AR scan of the Karipuna village. Captured by taking photographs from a small plane and using photogrammetric techniques and software to produce a 3D model.
Scenes like this were plentiful during a 3-hour flight over parts of Rondônia state, not far from the town of União Bandeirantes.